Folke did a lot of research before writing the book. Talk to him at Knob Creek and ask how he determined the originality of the cloth slings. I'm certain he has a reason for his opinion, and the story should be interesting.

I'd check the front barrel bushing for sticking. The recuperator should slap the barrel forward, as it has to immediately after the bolt head releases. But, if the barrel is sticking somewhat, the recuperator is pushing until it overcomes the sticking and then the barrel slaps fully forward after a ...

High speed photography would solve this question immediately. Try putting a rubber pad (piece of radiator hose or similar) on the front of the trigger guard to see if the brass is twirling into it upon ejection.

Bil, the bolt I got from you was an MG3 bolt with the spring loaded feed pin, but it was the same weight as the standard WWII bolts. I've seen 3 bolt weights, but I've never seen a buffer made to take the pounding from the heavier bolts. Without that, using a heavier than standard bolt is just askin...

A trigger pack AND a full auto style bolt can enable an H & K semi receiver to fire full auto. The term "registered" needs to be defined. You're using it to include "research" parts made by an SOT, while most people use it as meaning that it is a transferable item, that is, a...

Conversely to the above possibility, it could have been a registered machine gun, and the guy made a semi auto kit that works in the MG receiver. It's perfectly legal to do that, just not the other way around.

Picture 3 is a combination tool for ruptured case extraction and extractor changing. I think the tool above it in picture 5 with the handle and L shaped is used to compress the spring for assembling the rear sight. L shaped tool in picture 1 is a bore/chamber mirror. Picture 6 - front sight adjustme...

The charging handle bar is indeed supposed to be straight. Of course, when the bolt is pulled fully rearward, it is caught by the sear in the trigger group. You'll need to look there for the cause of the problem. Of the two tabs that protrude downward from the bolt body, the rearward tab is caught b...

take off the buttstock, buffer and recoil spring, then remove the trigger group and take out the bolt if it will come out. You may have to manipulate the charging handle to get the bolt out. I'm guessing the charging handle is in crooked.

The "rail" with the hooked end that you are seeing is part of the charging handle. It's not in the position it is supposed to be in for a functioning gun. I'm not familiar with UK rules for deactivating guns, so I can't say whether or how your gun should function. The safety won't operate ...

The single best MG42 manual I have would be HDv 241. Each has some details not covered in the other manuals, but for an operator manual, HDv 241 is tops. It covers all the basics that the shooter needs to know.